366 Posts
I worked full time and went to school part time doing all my non-science classes with no problem. Then I decided to go 13 class hours and started the science classes and it became to much with taking care of my family also, so I ended up not working right now. I would try to work and if it becomes to hard to do both adjust as needed.
262 Posts
I worked full time during during nursing school. Durng my most stressful quarter, i cut down to working 60hours in a payperiod, 3 12s one week and 2 12s the next. I do overtime during midterm week but i had to work myself like that because i didn't want to take out loans.
There are a few weekends i called out when i had a huge test the upcoming week.
For me, it worked, i was able to maintain good grades while working like a fool (there were a a good number times i'd be pooled for a one to one so i ended up sitting and studying, plus i worked night shift so after 11p vitals and everything, patient gets to sleep and i only get up when the call bell rings or the tele alarm beeps. it makes me love the nights when i get pooled to the rehab unit because they don't have tele alarms going off all night).
Some of my friends had to quit and i think it totally depends on you. The beginning part of nursing school is crazy and juggling hanging out with friends, school and work can be crazy but it's either you have to find a way to handle it. You may have to cut back on certain things
Nursing school isn't easy so if working is gonna affect your grades, i say, it's better to graduate when you have to instead of retaking classes, taking semesters off because the class you have to repeat isn't offered and graduating 2years after your real date. There are some people who started school before me and i've passed through the program and graduated and they have yet to graduate.
I say start out, see what you can handle and go from there. Discipline and time management is a good characteristic to possess.
all the best
17 Posts
tonyal
328 Posts
I think that totally depends on you. I have worked almost full time during my prereq's and have been fine, but when it comes time for the actual nursing classes I will cut back to about nothing. Others I know have had a hard time working part time during prereq's. So it all depends on how you work under pressure and what you can handle.